SEBORRHEIC KERATOSES

Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.

Seborrheic Keratoses

Are areas of thickened skin which can develop anywhere on the skin's surface except for the palms and soles.
Are NOT the same as moles.
Are NOT cancerous and NEVER develop into a skin cancer.
May be tan/pink/brown or even black in colour and may be flat or raised.
Are not due to the Human Papilloma (HPV) wart virus.
Are NOT due to diet or sun damage.
Appear as the skin matures.
Are NOT contagious.
May get gradually larger with time and do not disappear spontaneously.
May sometimes get irritated, crusted, bleed or have a piece "fall off" and may mimic the appearance of a skin cancer. Be sure to have your spot checked by a doctor if these changes occur.

Treatment:

Liquid Nitrogen:
- The treatment that I use most often is Liquid Nitrogen, which is a cold, freezing spray.
- The treatment stings and the area treated may remain sore for 1 to 2 days.
- The treatment may produce blisters. This is normal.
- If the blisters are painful, pop them with a sterile needle to let the fluid out.
- The blisters will produce crusts which usually heal in 7 to 10 days.
- The treated area requires no special treatment.
- You may bathe normally.
- A bandage is not necessary.
Surgical Removal:
- In some cases it is best to remove the Seborrheic Keratosis with a small surgical procedure.
- The skin adjacent to the spot is injected with a local anesthetic to numb the area.
- The lesion is removed and the base treated with a medication so that it does not bleed.
- Stitches are not necessary.
- The removal is not painful.
- After the procedure you may bathe normally.
- For 1 week after the treatment, apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment and change the bandage daily.
- After a seborrheic keratosis has been removed a crust or scab will form. This will heal and leave a pink mark that will gradually fade.
- After the removal, there may be a residual white mark.
- There is a small chance that the seborrheic keratosis could grow back.
There is no cream at this time that will remove seborrheic keratoses.
Treatment of seborrheic keratoses is not covered by OHIP or private health insurance.
A referral from a doctor is necessary to make your first appointment.